Tag Archives: Maui

The road to Hana is one of the most picturesque drives you can take in Hawaii. Perhaps it could also be one of the most scenic drives in the world. The Hana Highway takes you to the idyllic town of Hana on the island of Maui. The approximately 64 mile journey from Kahului to Hana can take 2 ½ hours, provided you don’t stop along the way. But you should stop by as many places as you can. This is because the when driving to Hana, the goal should not be the destination, but the journey.

Things to See Along the Road to Hana

Plan on making your sure-to-be memorable trip a whole day affair. This is because there are a lot of things to see. Additionally, most of the road will be narrow and winding with more than 600 curves. There are 59 bridges along the way. But 46 of them can only be traversed by cars going in the same direction. The highway is also on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Waterfalls

There are many interesting and scenic stops that you should see on the Hana Highway. You can visit one of innumerable secluded waterfalls in a lush tropical setting. The abundant rainfall along the northern slopes of Haleakala creates these memorable waterfalls. Here are some of the more notable ones. You can find Twin Falls at Mile Marker 2, Upper Waikani Falls or the Three Bears at Mile Marker 19. There are also Hanawai Falls at Mile Marker 24 and Wailua Falls at Mile Marker 45.

Wayside Parks

There are a number of quiet and beautiful public roadside areas. The Kaumahina, Wailua Valley and the Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Parks are examples. Stop at any one of these parks to take a break from your drive. Here, you can also enjoy some of Maui’s best places for leisurely strolls and relaxation. In addition to waterfalls and parks, there are numerous scenic lookout spots as well as roadside stands. At these places, you can sample exotic fruits and other locally made food products.

View from a scenic lookout along the road to Hana.

Gardens and Arboretums

Other very notable places to stop include the Garden of Eden Arboretum and the Keanae Arboretum. Here, you can see a large number of native plants and farm crops on display. You should also stop by the Kahanu Garden which is a part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Once a sugar plantation and pasture, the garden now showcases Hawaiian plants, history and culture. The area is also home to the Pi’ilanihale Heiau or temple, one of the largest in all of Polynesia.

The Town of Hana

Once you get to the town of Hana, take the time to explore its sights and attractions. One of the things you definitely do is to head out to Wai’anapanapa State Park. It features the black sand beach, Pa’iloa. You can also visit the Wai’anapanapa freshwater caves which are good examples of anchialine pools. Anchialine pools are landlocked bodies of water with a subterranean connection to the ocean. Such pools are unique to places where there are aquifers within lava coastal bedrock.

Another must see place in Hana is the rustic and inventory-crammed Hasegawa General Store. The store sells almost anything and everything to the local Hana residents and visitors. It has been a long-time part of the island’s lore and culture.

Kipahulu

Don’t plan on just stopping in Hana. There is still much to see beyond this town. In Kipahulu, stop by the Palapala Ho’omau Church. At this place, you can visit the grave of one of America’s most famous aviators, Charles Lindbergh. In his latter years, Lindbergh and his wife lived in this part of Maui on a half time basis. He loved it so much he wanted to be buried here when he died in 1974.

Another very famous attraction in the Kipahulu area is the Ohe’o Gulch or Seven Sacred Pools. Here, you can find waterfalls, picturesque freshwater swimming pools, forest trails, waterfalls and a historic heiau. This area, stretching down from Haleakala’s summit, was added to Haleakala National Park in 1969.

The Few Motion Pictures Shot on Maui

The State of Hawaii has provided the beautiful backdrop of a number of great Hollywood blockbuster movies. They included Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Descendants and more. However, most of those films were either filmed on the island of Kauai or Oahu. But were there any major motion pictures shot on Maui? Here is an overview of the relatively few that were.

The Devil at 4 O’clock

This 1961 disaster epic is about a priest’s efforts to rescue children with Hansen’s disease from an exploding volcano. It had all of the essential components for a successful major motion picture. It had arguable two of the biggest name stars in Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra. The special effects in the movie, set in a fictional island in French Polynesia, were leading edge for the times. Last but not least, it featured a great setting, Maui. Most of the movie was shot on location in the town of Lahaina.

The Hawaiians

This 1970 movie starred Charleston Heston and Geraldine Chaplin. The story came from the later chapters of the best-selling James Michener novel, Hawaii. The movie had a number of scenes shot on Maui in addition to covering key historic events in Hawaii. One example was the Chinese and Japanese immigration to the islands. Another one was the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. The spread and control of Hansen’s Disease and the development of the pineapple industry in Hawaii were also covered in the movie. The movie’s depiction of how the pineapple industry started in Hawaii is ironically appropriate. This is because as Maui was one of the last places in Hawaii to grow pineapples.

Papillon

You have big name stars like Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. You also have Maui as a backdrop in this 1973 Academy Award nominated and Golden Globe winning movie. What more do you need? This movie is about life in the infamous penal system in French Guiana. It had a number of key scenes shot in Hana, Maui. Here, the climactic scene where Papillon jumped off a dangerous cliff to escape imprisonment was shot. Steve McQueen, being Steve McQueen, actually did the dangerous cliff jumping scene himself.

Despite such major motion pictures, it’s a mystery why Hollywood doesn’t shoot more films on Maui. Millions of tourists throughout the world know and appreciate Maui’s enticing charms. Hopefully, the movie industry will one day rediscover it as well as utilize it more fully.

Places Where Locals Eat on Maui

Wherever you travel, do you ever wonder where the locals eat? Most probably, these places not only serve good food, they probably offer the best value for your money. The Valley Isle of Maui is not any different. Here are just some of the places where locals eat on Maui.

Sam Sato’s

One of Maui’s favorite local eateries is Sam Sato’s. Sam Sato’s is famous for its dry mein dish. Dry mein is almost the same as Hawaii’s saimin. Saimin is Hawaii’s own unique version of Japanese ramen. Except in dry mein, the soup is served separately from the noodles. Hence the name, dry mein. People also know this place for its barbeque sticks that typically accompany dry mein. This place is also famous for its manju, a Japanese rice cake with a variety of sweet fillings.

Ichiban Okazuya

Another local favorite on Maui is Ichiban Okazuya. One can find it in a small, very old building with very limited parking. This place is very popular. The office building across the street had to hire a parking attendant during lunch hours to keep customers out of their lot. They offer a wide variety of take out offerings. But people rave about their chicken katsu and their chicken katsu don. Other popular take out items include their miso ahi, butterfish and Korean chicken.

Saigon Cafe

Saigon Cafe is another popular establishment among Maui’s residents. The restaurant is somewhat hidden away under a small bridge in the sleepy town of Wailuku. While it might be tough to find for the first-timer, people say it’s worth the frustration. Saigon Cafe features Vietnamese food as well as a large selection of local menu items. These include oxtail soup, steamed local fish and saimin. This is a favorite local spot for business lunches and dinners.

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